Driver agencies in Pakistan charge in one of three ways: a monthly percentage of the driver’s salary, a registration fee plus commission, or a one-time recruitment fee. HireDriver.pk charges once, an amount equal to the first monthly salary, and replaces the driver without another fee if they leave within six months.
- Common models
- Monthly cut · registration + commission · one-time fee
- HireDriver.pk fee
- One-time, = 1st month’s salary
- Monthly commission
- None
- Replacement
- Free within 6 months, any reason
- Updated
- 26 October 2026
How much commission does a driver agency charge?
There is no standard rate across Pakistan, but almost every driver agency uses one of three models. Understanding them is the single most useful thing you can do before you sign anything, because two offers that look similar can cost very different amounts over a year.
- Monthly commission: the agency takes a percentage of the driver’s salary every month for as long as the driver works for you. It looks small per month but adds up, and sometimes the commission is quietly deducted from the driver’s pay, which makes drivers more likely to leave.
- Registration fee plus commission: you pay an upfront registration charge to see candidates, then a placement commission when someone starts. If no suitable driver is found, the registration fee may not come back.
- One-time recruitment fee: you pay once when the placement is made, often an amount linked to the monthly salary, and nothing after that.
HireDriver.pk uses the third model. Our one time driver recruitment fee equals the driver’s first monthly salary. After that you pay only the driver’s salary, directly to the driver. There is no monthly cut and nothing is deducted from the driver’s pay.
Comparing the true cost over twelve months
The easiest way to compare agencies is to calculate the full first-year cost. Use the same salary for each option and add every fee the agency charges.
| Model | Year-one agency cost | Year-two agency cost | Who usually pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly commission (e.g. 10% of salary) | 1.2 × monthly salary | 1.2 × monthly salary | Employer, sometimes deducted from driver |
| Registration + commission | Registration + commission | Usually none | Employer |
| One-time fee (HireDriver.pk) | 1 × monthly salary | None | Employer |
The monthly-commission figure is an example of how a percentage accumulates, not a quote from any particular agency. Always ask each agency for its own figures in writing.
Are driver agency fees refundable?
Refund rules vary more than any other part of an agency’s terms, so ask before you pay. The questions that matter are: is anything payable before a driver starts, what happens to that money if no suitable candidate is found, and what happens if the driver leaves in the first weeks.
- Ask for the refund and replacement terms in writing, not just verbally.
- Check whether a registration fee is refundable if no driver is placed.
- Check whether the fee is linked to the driver actually starting work.
- Check whether a replacement is offered instead of a refund, and for how long.
At HireDriver.pk we confirm payment and refund terms in writing before a placement starts, and our main protection for you is the replacement guarantee described below.
What a driver agency replacement guarantee should cover
A replacement guarantee is a promise that, if the driver leaves within a set period, the agency finds you another driver without charging a new fee. It is the most valuable protection an agency can offer, because the first months of a placement are when most problems appear.
- Length: how many months the guarantee lasts. Ours is six months.
- Reasons covered: some guarantees exclude resignations or dismissals. Ours applies if the driver leaves for any reason.
- Number of replacements: ask whether there is a limit.
- Fees: confirm that no additional agency fee applies to the replacement.
- Process: how quickly the agency starts searching again and what information it needs.
What happens if a hired driver quits?
If a driver placed by HireDriver.pk leaves within six months, tell us the original placement date and the date the driver left. We start a new search based on your existing brief, updated with anything you would like to change, and you interview and trial candidates as before. The replacement is provided without an additional agency fee; the new driver’s salary is agreed with you as usual.
If a driver leaves after six months, you can still hire through us again; the normal one-time fee applies to the new placement. Many employers use the first placement to learn what they really need, so the second brief is sharper and the match lasts longer.
Red flags when comparing driver agencies
- Fees that are only explained verbally
- Commission deducted from the driver’s salary without your knowledge
- A “guarantee” that excludes the most common reasons drivers leave
- Pressure to pay before you have seen any candidate
- No way to speak to the driver’s previous employers
- Vague claims such as “100% verified” without saying which checks were done
Ten questions to ask any driver agency
- Is your fee one-time or monthly?
- How is the fee calculated?
- Is anything deducted from the driver’s salary?
- When is the fee payable?
- Is any part refundable, and when?
- How long is the replacement guarantee?
- Does it cover resignation and dismissal?
- Is there a limit on replacements?
- Which checks do you perform, and can I see the results?
- Can I speak to previous employers myself?
HireDriver.pk terms at a glance
- Full-time placements for your own car
- One-time fee equal to the driver’s first monthly salary
- No monthly commission; the driver keeps the full salary
- Free replacement if the placed driver leaves for any reason within six months
- Terms confirmed in writing before the placement starts
Why the fee model matters to drivers too
When an agency takes a monthly cut from the driver’s salary, the driver effectively earns less for the same work, and has a reason to look for another job where nothing is deducted. A one-time employer-paid fee means the driver receives the full agreed salary from the first month, which supports retention and makes the replacement guarantee less likely to be needed.
Key terms explained
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Placement agency | A business that finds and shortlists candidates for an employer. The employer interviews, chooses and employs the driver directly. |
| Full-time placement | A permanent driving job on a monthly salary, usually a full day six days a week, as opposed to a daily or hourly booking. |
| Placement fee | The amount paid to the agency for a successful placement. At HireDriver.pk it is charged once and equals the driver’s first monthly salary. |
| Replacement guarantee | A promise to find another driver without a new fee if the placed driver leaves within a set period. Ours is six months, for any reason. |
| Minimum wage | The lowest lawful monthly pay for full-time work, set by each province or territory for 26 working days. |
| CNIC | The Computerised National Identity Card issued by NADRA; the basic identity document every driver should show in original. |
| LTV licence | A licence for light transport vehicles such as vans and pickups used commercially. |
| HTV licence | A licence for heavy transport vehicles such as buses and trucks. |
| Police character certificate | A certificate issued by the police confirming a person’s record, available through provincial police services. |
| Probation | A short trial period at the start of employment, often one month, with a simple notice rule for both sides. |
| Overtime | Work beyond the agreed normal hours, paid at an agreed rate or fixed amount per late evening. |
| Live-in / live-out | A live-in driver stays at or near the employer’s home; a live-out driver commutes daily. Hours and pay should be agreed either way. |
Knowing these terms makes it easier to compare agencies, read an employment agreement and ask the right questions before a driver starts.
How to hire a driver in Pakistan
What happens if hired driver quits. Call or WhatsApp 0339 1222233 with your requirements and we will explain availability, salary expectations and next steps.
Driver salary and hiring cost in Pakistan
How much commission does driver agency charge. The real cost has two parts: the driver’s monthly salary, which you pay directly, and our one-time placement fee equal to that first month’s salary.
Hiring a driver through HireDriver.pk
HireDriver.pk is a driver placement agency at Chandni Chowk, Rawalpindi. We place full-time drivers for your own car in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and 13 other cities. You share your brief, we shortlist suitable drivers, you interview them and take a trial drive in your own car, and you employ the driver directly on a monthly salary. Our fee is charged once and equals the first monthly salary; there is no monthly commission. If the driver we place leaves for any reason within six months, we provide a replacement without an additional agency fee.
To start, call or WhatsApp 0339 1222233 with your area, your car, the duty hours and the kind of driving you need, or use the enquiry form on our website. We will explain realistic salary expectations for the role and the next steps before any shortlist is prepared.
Frequently asked questions
How much commission does a driver agency charge?
It varies: some charge a monthly percentage, some a registration fee plus commission, some a one-time fee. HireDriver.pk charges once, equal to the first monthly salary.
Is a one-time fee better than monthly commission?
Over a year or more, a one-time fee is usually cheaper and avoids deductions from the driver’s pay.
Are driver agency fees refundable?
It depends on the agency. Ask for refund and replacement terms in writing before paying.
What does the replacement guarantee cover?
With HireDriver.pk, a replacement without additional agency fee if the placed driver leaves for any reason within six months.
Do I pay the driver through the agency?
No. You pay the salary directly to the driver.